Ambassador Sibanda-Thusi was speaking to South African businesspeople, who were attending the last day of the Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) in Novosibirsk, Russia, on Thursday, 26 October.

"As representatives of the Government of South Africa, we are entrusted with the task of enhancing political and economic relations between the countries we are posted to.

"Our task is to promote cordial mutual bilateral relations that will enable us to position South Africa as a country of choice for bilateral trade and investment," said the country's Ambassador to Russia.

Organised and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, the ITI was aimed at increasing exports of agro-processing and clothing and textile products, among others, to the Russian market.

Twenty South African companies participated in the mission.

Ambassador Sibanda-Thusi said government invested in trade and investment missions because companies that participated in these missions were able to contribute to growing the economy of South Africa and creating jobs that the country needed.

"We identify markets where opportunities exist for the South African value-added products in particular, to be exported to. Once the companies find new export markets for their products, they increase their production which assists in saving jobs and creating new job opportunities.

"That is the reason why we as government invest in these missions because their positive impact on our economy is far-reaching," she said. – Source: SAnews.gov.za